Maryland Police Academy Requirements

The Maryland police Academy requirements are designed to ensure that the best candidates are able to become officers. Below are the specific requirements for potential candidates.

Academy Overview

You will live at the Academy Monday through Friday for 26 weeks. You will be required to stand military-style inspection every day. An accumulation of demerits may lead to disciplinary weekends at the Academy. It will not matter whether you were in the military, went to college or had a job prior to entering the Academy. The Academy will be one of the toughest times you will ever endure.

Age Requirement

A State Trooper applicant must be at least 20 and 6 months in age. There is no upper age limit. Note: The on-line application asks if you are at least 21 years of age, or will be 21 within six months.

Residency and Citizenship Requirement

Applicants must be a resident of Maryland and possess a valid Maryland driver’s license upon appointment as a State Police Cadet. Applicant’s current driving record cannot exceed 3 points, in the event you exceed this requirement please wait to apply until you are at or below 3 points.  Applicants must be a United States citizen at the time of initial application.

Educational Requirement

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED) time of application.  Correspondence or mail-order high school diplomas are not accepted. Additionally, 2 or more years of responsible work experience or attendance at an institution of higher learning following high school graduation are required.

Applicant will be required to take a written/oral examination, psychological test, as well as a polygraph examination.

Automatic Disqualification Factors

Applicants are advised that the Maryland State Police will automatically disqualify any applicant who does not meet the general requirements as detailed above.  In addition, the following information is provided regarding our criteria for automatic disqualification:

• Falsification, omission, or misrepresentation of any information during the completion of the Polygraph Screening Booklet, the Polygraph Examination, the Formal Application for Employment, and any other documents/processes associated with the Cadet Selection Procedures.
• Substance abuse/use within a prescribed time frame and/or that is beyond what is considered experimental by the Maryland State Police.
• Criminal arrests/behavior which would not reflect well on the Maryland State Police.

The core purpose of the Maryland State Police is to seek justice, preserve peace, and improve the quality of life for all.  As such, the Department has established the core values of Honor, Service, Integrity, Respect, Trust, Courage, and Duty, and is seeking applicants who possess these traits and conduct themselves accordingly.  Certain issues within a person’s background have been identified which will result in automatic disqualification, including but not limited to:  criminal conduct (actual arrest and/or admission of behavior whether or not arrested) and substance abuse.

A preliminary determination will be made by the Maryland State Police based upon information supplied; therefore, applicants must be forthright and honest in documenting their conduct.  Be advised that this preliminary determination is not binding as it is made based upon information provided by the applicant only.  Should an applicant continue in the selection process, the conduct will then be discussed and documented with a Maryland State Police Officer.

Applicants are advised that all information provided to the Maryland State Police is to contain no misrepresentation, falsification, omissions, or concealment of material fact and that, upon submission of any official document (on-line or otherwise), applicants swear or affirm that all information provided is true, complete, and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.  Applicants are further advised that all information provided is subject to later investigation.

Physical Readiness Test

Minimum standards to pass the Physical Fitness Test :

The Functional Fitness Assessment Test (FFAT) measures the applicant’s level of fitness and physical preparedness for the Academy. This test is a high intensity fitness evaluation.  It is designed to test your aerobic and anaerobic fitness.  For this reason, there are no rest breaks between the exercises.

You will be evaluated based on a standardized set of criteria. The standards are as follows:

• Push-Ups: eighteen (18) in one minute
• Sit-Ups: twenty-seven (27) in one minute
• Flexibility: approximately 1.5 inches beyond toes (while seated)
• 1.5 Mile Run: maximum time of 15 minutes and 20 seconds (15:20)

NOTE:  The eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time.